Piper PA-32R-300 N3929F

Summary

On 17 September 1989 at about 17:30 local time, a Piper PA-32R-300 registered N3929F, operated by Richer, Everett C., was involved in an accident near Mammoth Lakes, California, United States. 2 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

17 September 1989 at 17:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Mammoth Lakes, California, United States

Nearest airport

Mammoth Lakes (MMH)

Coordinates

37.5791, -118.8410

Aircraft

Piper PA-32R-300

Registration

N3929F

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Richer, Everett C.

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Unknown → Rancho Calif.

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

LAX89LA313

Nobody was injured.

THE PILOT'S IMPROPER COMPENSATION FOR THE EXISTING WIND CONDITION AND HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AIRSPEED. FACTORS THAT RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE GUSTY & CROSS-WINDS AND HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE PLT REPORTED THAT HE EXECUTED A NORMAL TAKEOFF FM RWY 27 & USED LEFT AILERON PRESSURE TO COMPENSATE FOR THE GUSTY & X-WIND CONDITION. AT THE TIME OF DEPARTURE THE DENSITY ALTITUDE WAS OVER 8200 FT. THE WIND WAS FROM 180 DEG AT 35 KTS. THE PLT DID NOT INDICATE THAT HE USED HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE TAKEOFF TECHNIQUES OR THAT HE ADJUSTED HIS INITIAL RATE OF CLIMB AIRSPEED TO COMPENSATE FOR THE GUSTY WIND CONDITION. THE ACFT LIFTED OFF, CLIMBED TO 20 FT AGL, ENCOUNTERED THE GUSTY WIND, AND COLLIDED WITH TERRAIN ADJACENT TO THE SIDE OF THE RWY.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.